Day: September 29, 2023

The Ministry of Health and Social Services is in the process of completing a water reservoir for the Omuthiya District Hospital which will help to address the issue of water shortages at the hospital.

The ministry’s Oshikoto regional director, Josua Nghipangelwa, told Nampa in an interview on Wednesday the hospital experienced water shortages in the past and therefore decided to install a 107 000 litre water reservoir that will be in use in the next two to three weeks.

“We have a small reservoir but due to the demand of our hospital, it has not been sufficient. The new reservoir will at least be able to hold enough water, especially during the times when we experience water shortages,” said Nghipangelwa.

The director spoke of the dangers of the hospital going without water due to a pipe burst or shortage of water supply.

“Patients are at a higher risk of getting infections, especially if they have underlying conditions,” said Nghipangelwa.

He noted that the ministry has a lot of responsibilities and one of those is to make sure their patients are well taken care of.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

An 18-year-old boy has been arrested at Okahandja for allegedly raping his seven-year-old cousin.

According to Namibian Police Force spokesperson, Inspector Raimbert Muronga, the incident allegedly occurred around 21h00 on Thursday at Oshetu no.3, Vergenoeg.

“It is alleged that the victim was asleep with the suspect in a shared room, but on different beds, when the incident took place. The suspect was arrested and the victim was taken to the hospital and examined by a doctor,” Muronga said.

The suspect was expected to appear in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Zambezi Regional Council (ZRC) has received an adverse opinion for the 2021/22 financial year from Auditor-General Junias Kandjeke.

The adverse audit opinion was issued because the accompanying financial statements did not give a true and fair view of the financial position of the regional council as at 31 March 2021 and 2022 and its financial performance and cash flow for the years ended in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

The report availed this week further reveals that for the 2021 financial year, the auditors noted that the council made adjustments to the opening balance amounting to N.dollars 52 302 584 without appropriate disclosures as required by IPSAS.

For the 2022 financial year, the auditors noted a difference for motor vehicles of N.dollars 638 625 between the opening cost of N.dollars 12 888 627 as disclosed in the 2022 financial statements, and the closing cost amount of of N.dollars 13 527 252 as per the 2021 financial statements.

With the Kabbe South Constituency office, the auditors noted that the Kabbe South Constituency office completion certificate issued on 16 September 2021 amounted to N. dollars 16 388 693, while the valuer general issued a valuation certificate amounting to N.dollars 8 400 000, resulting in a major impairment of N. dollars 7 988 693. This impairment was not recognised by ZRC.

Contacted for comment, ZRC Chief Regional Officer Regina Ndopu-Lubinda acknowledged that the audit opinion was fair, stating that the IPSAS framework was recently introduced to all regional councils and local authorities.

“ZRC adopted IPSAS framework in the financial year 2020. However, our main focus was to clear the outstanding backlog of which to date we have no outstanding financial statements. This will make it easier to pay attention to every detail through management checks and monthly reconciliations with a view to improving the opinion,” Ndopu-Lubinda added.

She further revealed that most of the factors raised in the previous audit have been corrected in the 2022/23 financial statements.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Mariental Urban Councillor, Petrus Johannes Esterhuizen, escaped with fractures from a motor vehicle accident between Otavi and Tsumeb Friday morning.

Namibian Police Force spokesperson, Inspector Raimbert Muronga, told Nampa that Esterhuizen, 45, was being driven from the National Skills Competition in Ongwediva. The competition started on Monday and ends Saturday.

The driver, 51-year-old Gershon Dausab, also sustained fractures on his arms.

It is alleged that the two were traveling in a Toyota pick-up belonging to the Hardap Regional Council, when the driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve on top of a hill, following a left front tyre burst.

“The vehicle rolled once, landed on its right side and got seriously damaged,” Muronga said.

The two occupants have since been transported to the Tsumeb State Hospital for medical attention.

A case of reckless and negligent driving has been registered.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Ondangwa Town Council spokesperson, Petrina Shitalangaho-Mutikisha, has said all residents with overdue accounts will receive interest-free municipal services for a period of one year, starting from October 2023.

Shitalangaho-Mutikisha made the remarks on Friday, mentioning that the waiver period will last until September 2024.

The spokesperson said this is being done with the aim of encouraging residents to settle their accounts without any difficulties.

Currently, Ondangwa residents owe the council N.dollars 85 million in municipal services, Shitalangaho-Mutikisha stated.

“The council’s debts have increased rapidly due to the economic downturn, coupled with the severe effects of the coronavirus. Some residents have lost their income and employment, limiting their purchasing power and ability to pay their municipal services in full,” she said.

She added that the global economic slump has severely affected economic development activities, resulting in the closure of some local business establishments, which also influenced the decision.

Shitalangaho-Mutikisha stated that this programme is applicable to all account holders classified as domestic (residential), commercial (business and industrial), non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, churches, and private institutions.

However, she noted that this is not applicable to government Offices, Ministries, and Agencies (OMAs), including State-owned enterprises.

She stressed that this is not the first time the council is bringing a relief programme to its residents. In the 2021/2022 financial year, during the sixth Ordinary Council meeting in 2021, for a period of 12 months, the council exempted people in informal areas from paying connection fees for sewer and water for a period of one year.

Shitalangaho-Mutikisha emphasised that this was done to help residents who were hard-hit by the pandemic and the negative economic conditions associated with it, whereby some residents were retrenched, and salaries reduced.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Police Basic Training Course 1 of 2023-2024 was officially opened at the Pius Joseph Kaundu Police Training Centre in the Omaheke Region on Friday.

This year’s training, officiated by the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has 244 Cadet Constables, with 122 male and 122 female Cadet Constables.

“I am delighted to note that the continued efforts by the senior management of the Namibian Police Force to implement equal gender representation within the force, is taking shape. This is evident in the sense that the men and women paraded before us today represent 122 Cadet Constables of each gender, which translate to 50/50 representation,” he highlighted.

According to the police chief, the basic training in Omaheke is running concurrently with the same basic training at the Ruben Danger Ashipala Police Training Centre at Ondangwa in the Oshana Region.

“This undertaking forms part of the objectives of the Namibian Police Force to strengthen its manpower through enhanced human capital development,” Shikongo indicated.

The new intakes will undergo six months of training, and after the successful six months completion they will be exposed to a further three months specialised training in various areas in the force.

The Omaheke Regional Commander, Commissioner Andreas Haingura urged the new Cadet Constables to embrace their journey with open hearts and steadfast commitment to excellence.

“The path you have chosen is not without challenges, but it is also a path filled with opportunities to make a positive impact on the lives of those you will serve. It is most pleasing to observe the continued growth of the manpower of the Namibian Police Force, but it is an even greater honour to observe this momentous event in the mighty Omaheke Region,” Haingura lauded.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency